Close Menu
Technology Mag

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Figma is going public

    July 1, 2025

    Google makes it easier to let friends and kids control your smart home

    July 1, 2025

    Cloudflare Is Blocking AI Crawlers by Default

    July 1, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Subscribe
    Technology Mag
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    • Home
    • News
    • Business
    • Games
    • Gear
    • Reviews
    • Science
    • Security
    • Trending
    • Press Release
    Technology Mag
    Home » How Not to Get Brain-Eating Worms and Mercury Poisoning
    Science

    How Not to Get Brain-Eating Worms and Mercury Poisoning

    News RoomBy News RoomMay 15, 20243 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp Email

    According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, almost all of us have at least trace amounts of methylmercury—the form of mercury we tend to encounter most—in our bodies due to its sheer prevalence in the environment. However, most of the time these levels are too low to result in any health problems.

    While some of this can come from residing near power plants, as coal combustion releases a range of harmful pollutants including mercury, humans tend to ingest the chemical through consuming fish, says Awadhesh Jha, a toxicologist at the University of Plymouth. “A lot of industries are near the coastline, and most of their contaminants, including mercury, are discharged into the aquatic environment,” he says. “So fish accumulate more of them.”

    While there is little information on the number of cases of mercury toxicity in the US each year, studies have shown that excessive mercury exposure can cause neurodevelopmental problems in children and expose adults to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. In various national surveys across the US, people with an income of less than $20,000 per year, low education, and those who consume fish more than three times a week have been found to have the most mercury exposure.

    Risks are highest when consuming larger fish, Jha says, because they accumulate greater concentrations of mercury in their bodies over time through eating smaller species. Because of this, both the EPA and the Food and Drug Administration advise pregnant women to avoid eating shark, swordfish, mackerel, or tilefish, as they may contain higher amounts of mercury, which could have an impact on the brain development of an unborn fetus.

    For the rest of us, Jha says he advises a limit of no more than 170 grams per week of fish such as tuna or mackerel—approximately a single can of tuna—and in general no more than 350 grams per week of any fish or shellfish. Exceeding these limits on an occasional basis will likely have little impact, but doing so week-in, week-out will raise your risk of having higher mercury levels in your body.

    The issue remains contentious among scientists, as eating a lot of fish also has known health benefits such as increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids, which are protective against cardiovascular disease.

    “Ultimately it depends on the person and how well they metabolize toxic substances,” Jha says. “It’s the genetic makeup of individuals which determines the toxicity of chemicals including mercury.”

    Research has previously shown that mercury can affect the body in various ways, which can have an impact on immune function. Common signs of mercury poisoning are joint and muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, insomnia, and excessive sweating.

    Anyone suffering from mercury poisoning can be treated through medicines called chelators, which remove mercury from the blood and keep it away from the brain and kidneys, but it’s a time-consuming process that can take weeks or months before symptoms improve.

    “It will gradually decompose and then be metabolized and excreted, but it still depends if the mercury is bound by certain proteins and other molecules in the body,” says Jha. “If that’s the case, it might take longer to be eliminated from the body.”

    RFK Jr. insists that he’s well past any ill effects from the dual maladies. “I offer to eat 5 more brain worms and still beat President Trump and President Biden in a debate,” the candidate tweeted Wednesday on X. “I feel confident of the result even with a six-worm handicap.”

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleInstagram’s co-founder is Anthropic’s new chief product officer
    Next Article Apple’s new accessibility features let you control an iPhone or iPad with your eyes

    Related Posts

    How to Make AI Faster and Smarter—With a Little Help From Physics

    July 1, 2025

    ‘They’re Not Breathing’: Inside the Chaos of ICE Detention Center 911 Calls

    June 29, 2025

    The FDA Just Approved a Long-Lasting Injection to Prevent HIV

    June 28, 2025

    Scientists Are Sending Cannabis Seeds to Space

    June 27, 2025

    How the Universe and Its Mirrored Version Are Different

    June 25, 2025

    Scientists Discover the Key to Axolotls’ Ability to Regenerate Limbs

    June 25, 2025
    Our Picks

    Google makes it easier to let friends and kids control your smart home

    July 1, 2025

    Cloudflare Is Blocking AI Crawlers by Default

    July 1, 2025

    The GOP’s big spending bill could kill renewable energy projects

    July 1, 2025

    A Dedicated Hot Dog Cooker Is the Spirit of American Summer

    July 1, 2025
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    Don't Miss
    Reviews

    Nothing Headphone 1 review: head-turning

    By News RoomJuly 1, 2025

    Nothing’s first pair of over-the-ear headphones has arrived, bearing the company’s signature retro-transparent design that…

    The MLS Season Pass is 50 percent off ahead of the All-Star game and Leagues Cup 

    July 1, 2025

    Senator Blackburn Pulls Support for AI Moratorium in Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Amid Backlash

    July 1, 2025

    Laptop Mag is shutting down

    July 1, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of use
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    © 2025 Technology Mag. All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.